School News

VIRTUE OF THE MONTH

The virtue for the Month of March is generosity. We are instilling this virtue in our students by showing the variety of ways one can be generous to others. We want students to know that generosity is not just limited to objects and money. Although it is an important character trait to share and give of their possessions and money, we also want students to understand that we can do the same with our time, talents, and just being ourselves. It involves discernment and balance. We as a school community will strive to demonstrate to our children what generosity means as an individual and also as a Christian school community.

SCHOOL UPDATES

There are 3 major updates happening in the school over Spring Break.

1. NewSchoolFurnaces – Our current Furnaces have never been replace when the school was first build back in 1986. In recent years the cost for upkeep has grown significantly. This year we receive approval and funding from the parish to replace the furnaces in the school. They will be replace with high efficiency furnaces that should last the school for several years to come!

2. NewWhiteboardsinalltheClassroom – The days of chalkboards are behind us. Again, we received approval and funding from the parish to replace all the chalkboards at the front of the classroom with porcelain whiteboards. This whiteboards have a lifetime guarantee and provides a much needed update to the learning in the classroom. The chalkboards located on the rolling walls on the sides of the classrooms will not be replaced at this time due to cost concerns.

We hope to donate the old chalkboards to a school in Nicaragua.

3. NewInteractiveProjectors – The PSG has kindly agreed to purchase 4 new projectors to go into the primary classrooms. This will mean that every classroom will have access to state of the art technology on a daily basis. The new projectors will allow students to use their fingers to move objects that are projected onto the whiteboards! If you would like to see it in action, please go to their website http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Product.do?sku=V11H599022 to watch some videos. The hope is to have these projectors in every classroom over the next few years.

We believe that most of this can be installed over Spring Break, however with the furnaces in the current condition that they are in, we are unsure of the unforeseen issues that might arise and delay the project. We ask for your patience if the project goes beyond the two weeks. We will keep you updated.

If you are looking for hours towards your parent participation contribution this is a great way to gather them.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!!

We need volunteers to help take down the chalkboards in the classrooms so we can have the walls ready for the new whiteboards. We are scheduled to do this at 7pm on Tuesday March 8th. If you are able to help out, please contact Marc Fournier; mgfournier@gmail.com

TRACK AND FIELD STARTS MARCH 21ST AT 8:10AM

With Spring Break happening in the middle of March, it adds a layer of unique planning to try to get everything ready and on a role for the start of Track and Field. Notices went home on Wednesday and we would like them returned to the teachers at the first track practice.

We encourage all students to attend track in one form or another. Track and Field is open to Grade 3 – 7 students and there are practices every day depending on what events your child signs up for. We have 11 teacher coaches and are in need of 4-6 parent coaches to help out (especially with conditioning and shot put/discuss). Please let Mr. van der Pauw know if you are able to lend a hand.

APPLICATION FOR NEW FAMILIES

We are currently accepting applications for new families. The response from new families that have already applied has been extremely positive. Many of the families have applied due to the positive and affirming feedback they have received. All of the families we have interviewed are very excited to join our community and are eager to get involved.

We are very thankful to have such amazing families in our school. Thank you for sharing your experiences with your families, friends, co-workers, and neighbours. It makes us stronger as a community and it ultimately benefits the education of your child and the new families that join us.

If you know of someone who would benefit from having their child(ren) at our school, please have them contact us or direct them to our website to download an application form.

REMINDERS

CONCUSSION AWARENESS

BC Injury Research & Prevention Unit (BCIRPU) is very pleased to inform parents that the Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT) for schools and parents has now been launched and is available at http://www.cattonline.com/

CATT was developed in partnership with the BC Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre. It provides schools and parents with the necessary resources for support a concussed child in their integration back to school:

– RECOGNIZE the signs and symptoms of a concussion

– RESPOND to a concussion event

-understand what a student needs to RECOVER from a concussion

– PREPARE for a student’s return to school

– support a student’s RETURN to learning and activities

– PREVENT and support PRACTICE through strategies and POLICIES

We hope you can take the time to review this important resource.
LAST CALL FOR OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CLUB SKI TRIP SIGN UP

Plans are already in the works for next year. The club aims to find activities for students to do in all seasons. Next year the goal is to take students skiing at Whistler. The trip will be for two separate days and is open to all students currently in grades 4-6. Parents are more than welcome to attend. We need 40 people to make the trip a go. If you would like to attend, please send back the form (sent home last week), along with a $10 deposit per person attending. If we do not get enough attendees, the $10 deposit will be returned.